Halte des Troupes (Soldiers and Women in an Encampment) 1710 - 1736

Jean-Baptiste Joseph Pater created this print, “Halte des Troupes,” which translates to “Soldiers and Women in an Encampment,” using etching, a printmaking technique. Etching relies on metal, acid, and tremendous skill. The artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, protective layer, then draws through it with a needle. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The longer it sits in the acid, the deeper the lines become. The plate is inked, the surface wiped clean, and then it is pressed onto paper, transferring the ink from the grooves. The quality of the line tells the story of the artist’s hand – how quickly or slowly the needle moved, how much pressure was applied, and how long the plate spent in the acid. It’s a fascinating translation of the artist’s original vision. Notice, also, how the composition of the image mirrors this process of revelation: the figures in the encampment, defined by the quality of line, emerge from the white of the page. In understanding the intricacies of its making, we appreciate not just the image, but the labor and skill involved in its creation.